Multiple cement block forming machine and method of making hollow building blocks



Oct. 18, 1938. E. Q. BLACKWELL 2,133,737 MULTIPLE CEMENT BLOCK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCKS Filed May 10, 195'] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2;" Owen .ZZdURWe/Z.

Oct.18, 1938. E WE L 2,133,737

MULTIPLE CEMENT BLOCK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCKS Filed May 10, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z7 His '6: Z'

5 w '22 i 3a o AC Ill/Ill x! I I E 0 a2 0 5; Z9 Z7 25 x I I E. OWenBZac'JE'WeZZ.

Oct. 18, 1938. E. o. BLACKWELL 2,133,737

MULTIPLE CEMENT BLOCK FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCKS Filed May 10, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 15'. Owen Blackwell.

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 7 UNITED *PATEN-T *OF'EICE CHINE D METHOD OF MAKING HOL- W- BUILDING BLOCKS Elie ()wen 'Bl'ackwell, Gainesville, Fla.

AppIic'ati'on-May'JO, 1937," Serial No. 141,802

teams. (01. 25-41) I 'I h'isinv'e'ntion ifel'ates tmmaohihes ior' moldifig Figure 2 is a-t'op plan viw of 'Figurel, hollow concrete building bloeks and has for i-ts Figure Bis a transverse sectional view taken on object 1 to providea comparatively simpleand the line 3-'3 'of Figure 2, thoroughly efficient'" machineofthis eharacter, Figure 4 is a similar view sho'wing the pre- 5 by means of 'which a plurality of hollowbuilding formed side walls of the block in' vertical position 5 -blo'cks of any desi1'ed size and shape maybe preparatory to introducing the c-ement in-the constructed at each 'hpe ration of 'the machine. "Web-formingspaces ofthe 'core,

A further object of the 'inventi'onis to provide Figure 5 is a transverse-sectional view showa blockiorming machine in" which the outer ingthe core in 'loweredi positionto"release' the "i0 walls -or segments of the 'blo'c'ks -are preformed molded product andeflectseverance thereofinto"l0 and subsequently united to the" connecting "webs 1 individual blocks or uniform length; and

to f'orm an integral homogeneous block. 'Figure 6 is a perspective view of aset of-build- A further obj'ect is to p'rovide a multiple block ing' blocks made by the' machine. -macl1inepthe web-formingcores of which-are The improved machine -f0rmirig thesubject- 3 5 provi'ded 'withtransverse cutting-knives which matter ofthe present invention is particularly engage the cement constituting-the sidewalls of designed for making twofor more hollow conthe'moldedproductand serve to sever or divide crete' blocks of the typeshown in Figure 6 of -same-productinto-individual blocks' 'of uniform the drawings. That is to sayg hollow blocks of sizeand' shape. 'any desired size and"sh'ape in 'Which the"o'ppo 2-0 A further object-is to provideablock-forming site side walls thereof are -united by integra1 machine comprising"ear-supporting frame having connecting' webs to permit free circulation of air side forms 'pivotally mounted-thereon and-northerethrough W en the-block is laid into-awall mally disposed in a horizontal plane to. permit 0r-other structure. the ready introduction and'convenient tamping T e ach e 0 D S a pp frame of cement therein to form continuous preformed table" 5 having side extensions 6 ""and provided "'25 side:walls, said-side forms 'being-- adapted to be with depending supporting legs 1. *Mounted 'on swung upwardly in contact with the web-formthe supporting'tablefi -isa-pallet 8 on whicli' is ing' cores so i that, "when cement is introduced mounted a' vertically movable weli-forming core between the=cores and in contactwith thepre- '9. The. web-"forming core 9 consists of w a pluformed: side walls;- the connecting -webs2will be rality "of sections lfl'iof any desired shape and30 intimately united 'td and bonded-with the side spacedzapart to form"intermediate web-forming 'walls'of'the block=-and'"when the cores-are withrecesses ll preferab y d p se ai angle to dra'wnirom the molding 'chamberthe' knives-on each other, as shown. 'Each'core'section lfl is the core -'will-cut or se'ver the molded-productinto p e y t p 0r1 Ot w seo med "from individual blocks. sheet'm'etal and the interior of' 'each core sec- '35 A further-objectis to provide ablock-forming -tion I0 is filled with cement and allowed to machine,- the colistriictic'm*of which' is suchas harden so as to impa t e d e St h d to permit the formationof a. mOlStUIB -pIOOf hol- Stability to the core. Certain of the "core "seclow concreteblock-having outer -veneer -faces of 'tions In are pr vided with transverse kr'iives' l3 m relatively 'fine material and inner'faces and-conembeddedinthecement 12 and having their 40 nectingwebsof relativelycoarse material whereends projecting laterally be'yond I the opposite by th co hf. t ti i .materially .d sides of the sectionsand provided with cutting creased. edges 14 for the purpose hereinafter referred A stillfurther object'of'the invention is gento. Secured to the bottom of the pallet8 is a L5 erally tdimprOVe this "cl-ass of 'machine'so as block-or plunger M'- slidably mounted "between tojin'crea'se their utility, durability andeificien'cy. suitable depending guide-membersJS' a'nd' c'on- 'In"*the'"accomp'anying 'drawingsTorming-apart nected through the'medium of a boIt IS with of this"specificationand"inwhichSizhilar nuan operating lever I1. The-'operating leverll'is merals-'of--reference-indicates correspondingparts pivotally mounted, at l8, on a brackket 19* sein all the figures of the drawings: cured to' one of the supporting 1688 311111 'con- Figure; 1; i P p t w' fi' fiible nected with the 'end of said-'leiverfisba 'ftiot hr block-forming -machine embodying the present hand operated device of any desired-construction invention sh'owingthe' side members 'of the moldfor therpurposeof raising aiid=l0wering the core. ing-chamber inhorizontal position ior preforming Pivotally mounted, at--21, -on 'thet'ableare I the-sidewallsof-the buildingblock, the side' meinbers 22'of 'a moldingchamber; in B6 dicated at 23, and these side members are normally supported in a horizontal position on the table 5, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The side members 22 comprise spaced longitudinal side strips 24 and 25 defining an intermediate molding cavity 26 adapted to receive a quantity of cement to permit preforming of the side walls of the concrete block; that is to say, before the side Walls are joined or united by the connecting webs. Secured to the opposite ends of the table 5 are stationary end plates 21 having openings 28 formed therein to permit the attachment of inclined braces 29, the purpose of which are to hold the side members 22 in vertical position at opposite sides of the molding chamber 23 after the side walls of the block have been preformed. End plates 30' are pivotally mounted, at 3|, on the extensions 6 of the supporting table, and these end plates 30 are adapted to be swung upwardly to form end closures for the molding chamber 23, as will be readily understood. Secured to the outer faces of the side members 22 are vertical braces 32 for the purpose of reinforcing and strengthening said members and the lower ends of these braces are pivotally mounted on the pivot rod 2| so that they will swing with the side members downwardly in engagement with the supporting table. The upper surface of the supporting table is preferably provided with transverse seating grooves 33 adapted to receive the braces 32 when the side members are in lowered position and thus permit the lower surfaces of the side members to rest fiat against the supporting table and provide a firm foundation during the tamping of the concrete within the molding cavities 2B.

In operation, the side members 22 are moved to a horizontal position in engagement with the upper surface of the supporting table 5, after which cement or other suitable plastic material 34 is shoveled or otherwise introduced within the molding cavities 26 and thoroughly tamped to preform the side walls of the building block. The side members 22 carrying the preformed cement side walls are then swung upwardly on the pivot ,rod 2| to a vertical position to form the side walls of the molding chamber, after which the end plates 30 are, swung upwardly to close the end walls of said molding chamber, the parts being secured in this position by the braces29. Cement is then introduced within the Web forming passages H and thoroughly tamped so as to cause the moistened cement to adhere to the moist surfaces of the preformed side walls 34 and thus become intimately united and bonded thereto. After the web-forming recesses or spaces U have been entirely filled with cement and the connecting webs joined with the preformed side walls 34, the lever I1 is actuated to lower or drop the core 9. As the core 9 drops, the cutting edges |4 of the knives l3 will pass through the preformed side walls l4 and sever or cut the molded product into a plurality of individual blocks 35 of uniform shape and dimensions. By reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that these blocks 35 consist of spaced side walls united by integral connecting webs 3'1, and these connecting webs 31 may be either straight or disposed at an angle to each other, the purpose being to provide a moisture-proof block having openings therein to permit the free circulation of air through the blocks when said blocks are laid into a wall. After the core has been dropped, the molded blocks are allowed to remain in position until the cement has thoroughly set or solidified, after which the braces are removed and the side members swung downwardly on their pivot 2| to lowered or horizontal position, thus permitting the blocks to be conveniently removed from the machine and deposited in a suita able place for future use.

If it is desired to mold the blocks with colored or veneered outer faces, a cement mixture of the desired color is first poured into the molding cavities 26, after which ordinary cement is placed 1 thereon and thoroughly tamped. When the blocks are formed in this manner, the outer faces of the blocks will be of relatively fine material while the inner faces of the blocks and connecting webs may be made of relatively coarse mate- 15 rial, thereby materially reducing the cost of manufacture. Both the inside and outside walls of the block may-be so veneered, thereby eliminating the plastering of walls on the inside of a building or of stuccoing on the outside where a mois- 2G ture-proof block is used. This coloring or veneering of the outer faces of the block also eliminates the necessityof coloring the entire aggregate which is very expensive.

As the sidewalls are preformed while in a hori- 2t zontal position, said walls may be constructed with greater facility and more rapidly and with better resultsthan ,if the side walls were formed in the main. molding chamber at the same time the connecting webs were formed, Moreover, M with the present machine any desired number of blocks mayqbe formed atonetime, the number of blocks being formed depending upon the length of the molding chamber 23 and the location of the cutting knives 33, as will be readily understood It will, of course, be understood that the machines maybe made in different sizes and shapes and constructed to permit the simultaneous formation of any desired number of. building blocks at one operation of the machine. 4(

From the foregoing description, it is thought that the constructionand operation of the machine will bexreadily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. 4|

Having thus' described the invention, what is claimed as new iszr 1. The method of making hollow building blocks which consists in providing vertically disposed cores spaced from each other, disposing open 5| faced molds in a substantially horizontal posi- -tion at opposite sides of the cores, filling the moving the cores and the molds, and allowing the formed block tothoroughly dry and harden.

2. The method of making hollow building blocks which consists in providing open faced molds spaced fromeach other, disposing cores between the molds in spaced relation to each other, filling the molds with plastic material, moving the molds into position to dispose their open faces into contact with opposite sides of the cores and the 7 plastic material therein'across spaces between the cores, filling space between cores with plastic material and allowing the plastic material in the molds and between the cores to unite and set to form side wallsof a block and cross webs bonded 1| at their ends to the side walls, and removing the cores and the molds.

3. The method of making hollow building blocks which consists in providing open faced molds spaced from each other and movable from a horizontal position to a vertical position, disposing cores between the molds in spaced relation to each other while the molds are in a horizontal position, filling the horizontally disposed molds with plastic material to form side walls of a block and moving the filled molds to a vertical position against opposite sides of the cores with portions of the plastic material exposed between the cores,

filling spaces between the cores with plastic material to form webs having their ends integrally bonded to the preformed side walls, cutting the side walls between certain of the webs while in a plastic condition to divide the block into a plurality of small blocks, and removing the small blocks.

4. The method of making hollow building blocks which consists in disposing open molds horizontally in spaced relation to each other, filling the molds with cement to form side walls of a block, positioning web-forming cores between the molds and providing certain of said cores with cutting knives, moving the filled molds to a vertical position in contact with opposite sides of the cores, introducing cement between the cores to form connecting webs, tamping the material between the cores to intimately unite said material with the material constituting the preformed side walls and form a homogeneous structure, withdrawing the cores from between the molds and causing the knives carried thereby to cut through side walls of the block and divide the block into individual blocks of uniform size and returning the molds to a horizontal position.

5. The method of making hollow building blocks which consists in providing a molding apparatus having pivoted side walls normally disposed in a horizontal plane and provided with molding cavities, introducing cement within the molding cavi-' ties while the side walls are in a horizontal plane to produce preformed side walls of a block, positioning web-forming cores between the pivoted side walls, moving the side walls upwardly to a vertical position against opposite sides of the webforming cores while the cement is in a plastic condition, introducing cement between said cores and in contact with the preformed side walls to cause the plastic material constituting the Webs and preformed side walls to be intimately united and bonded together to form a homogeneous integral block when set, and removing the formed block.

6. A machine for making hollow concrete building blocks comprising a frame, side molds carried by the frame and movable from a horizontal position to a vertical position, web-forming cores mounted for vertical movement between the side molds, said molds constituting means for preforming the opposite side walls of a block when in a horizontal position, means for supporting said side molds against opposite sides of the cores whereby when cement is introduced between said cores the resultant connecting webs will be integrally united with said preformed walls, and means carried by the cores for severing the side walls of the block and dividing the block into predetermined lengths when the cores are withdrawn from between the side molds.

7. A machine for making hollow building blocks comprising a table, pivoted side molds carried by said table for movement from a horizontal position to a vertical position and forming the side walls of a molding chamber when in a vertical position and provided with molding cavities for preforming the side walls of a block when in a horizontal position, web-forming cores movable vertically between the side molds, some of said cores being provided with cutting knives projecting from their sides, end walls for the molding chamber pivotally mounted on the table, means for supporting the pivoted side molds and end walls in upright position whereby when concrete is introduced between the cores the resultant connecting webs will be integrally united with said preformed walls to form an integral product, and means for retracting the cores from between the side molds to cause the cutting knives to pass through the side walls of the block and sever the molded product into predetermined lengths.

ELIE OWEN BLACKWELL. 

